Article: Interview with Sergei Kostitsyn

[hockeysc23 0]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_dadd...maining-content

There have been several indications that Sergei Kostitsyn, the 21-year-old winger for the Montreal Canadiens, is coming into his own during his second season in the NHL. He's on pace to set new career standards for goals and assists. His average ice time has increase, and he's become more of a physical force. His name is now discussed without an automatic mention of brother and teammate, Andrei Kostitsyn.

....

Who, in your opinion, is the most talented player in the NHL?

Do you want me to name just one? Or a couple?

Whatever you want.

I think of the young players it is Patrick Kane [of the Chicago Blackhawks]. He was the first in fan voting for the All Star game in the Western Conference. I played with him in the past when we were in the juniors. And we're actually about to have dinner with him right now.

And who is the most overhyped player?

It is probably Crosby, just like everyone says, just like Semin said recently. It is true that [he gets] a lot of attention. If you ask me, I think Semin and Ovechkin play much better than Crosby.

But you have to agree that Sidney Crosby is a great player with great skill. It's not for nothing he is considered one of the best players.

Yes, he is very technically skilled. But Semin, Ovechkin, Kovalchuk, Malkin are more technically skilled. And it's not because they are Russian, it's just my opinion.

Interesting to see how Semin isn't the only one to imply or directly state Crosby is overhyped and how good Kane is.

[interpathway 9]

Puck Daddy with another great article from Russian players. You have to think that Sergei looked up to Russian Ilya during his junior days.

[mrusse01 0]

Kostitsyn comes off as a douche in that interview.

What's 'overhyped' about a 19 year old winning the Art Ross, Hart, and Pearson award? I guess the rest of the league didn't think he was too hyped when they voted for him to win the Pearson.

Semin scored 10 goals when he was a 19 year old in the NHL, he can't stay healthy, and even when he is on the ice, he doesn't score at a rate even close to Crosby. There's not a chance in hell that he was, is, or ever will be a better player than Sidney Crosby. To say he plays 'much' better than Crosby is completely ridiculous.

Kane has a lot of talent, but again, he scored 30 points fewer than Crosby in his first season, and is on pace to finish with about 40 less points than Crosby in his second season. There isn't a GM alive who would even consider taking Patrick Kane over Sidney Crosby right now to build a team around.

I'm not even a Crosby fan, and I love watching Kane or Semin play, but I just think it's ridiculous the way Crosby gets dumped on considering his career so far at only 21 years old.

[hockeysc23 0]

Kostitsyn comes off as a douche in that interview.

What's 'overhyped' about a 19 year old winning the Art Ross, Hart, and Pearson award? I guess the rest of the league didn't think he was too hyped when they voted for him to win the Pearson.

Semin scored 10 goals when he was a 19 year old in the NHL, he can't stay healthy, and even when he is on the ice, he doesn't score at a rate even close to Crosby. There's not a chance in hell that he was, is, or ever will be a better player than Sidney Crosby. To say he plays 'much' better than Crosby is completely ridiculous.

Kane has a lot of talent, but again, he scored 30 points fewer than Crosby in his first season, and is on pace to finish with about 40 less points than Crosby in his second season. There isn't a GM alive who would even consider taking Patrick Kane over Sidney Crosby right now to build a team around.

I'm not even a Crosby fan, and I love watching Kane or Semin play, but I just think it's ridiculous the way Crosby gets dumped on considering his career so far at only 21 years old.

True I think Crosby is a great player but the marketing of him being shoved down every NHL fans mouth seems like its starting to get to much. I mean watch NHL Network and every other commerical has crosby in it or that Pens fan in Florida ....

I mean there is a ton of great talent in the NHL right now: ovie, kane, getzlaf, towes, the list goes on and on ...

[mrusse01 0]

I guess, but I don't see how that's Crosby's problem. Regardless of how he is marketed, to suggest Alexander Semin plays much better than Crosby is just dumb.

[hockeysc23 0]

I guess, but I don't see how that's Crosby's problem. Regardless of how he is marketed, to suggest Alexander Semin plays much better than Crosby is just dumb.

I think it focuses more on a talent perspective. Ask many Caps fans and I think you would see many think Semin has more talent then Ovechkin. Just the desire etc. is different.

[interpathway 9]

And many would argue that talent and complete package are very different from each other. CP being comprised of hockey sense, size, desire, leadership, etc. Many assets which Crosby harbors.

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

And many would argue that talent and complete package are very different from each other. CP being comprised of hockey sense, size, desire, leadership, etc. Many assets which Crosby harbors.

exactly. People forget talent alone does not make a player better than another. One could have superior skills, but if another player has a bigger frame, and better positioning ect... they might get more points. Crosby is a great thinker, but there are MANY in the league with more skill than him.

[camhockey16 5]

i think alot of nhl players arent impressed by crosby because he lacks that huge slapshot/overpowering shot that alot of other superstars have.. I think part of it is because he uses no curve at all - and to compare him to russian players that probably all use illegal curves isnt exactly a fair comparison.

[mrusse01 0]

Well let's get real, when Kostisyn said "I think Semin plays much better than Crosby" I don't think he meant "I think Semin has more talent than Crosby, but Sid is actually a better overall player". That's not what he's saying, he's saying "Semin is a better player than Crosby", and that's ridiculous.

Maybe it's a Russian thing, being infatuated with determining who is the most 'skilled' player as opposed to who is simply the best. Who cares who has the most 'talent'? If you aren't able to apply it, consistently, then you can have all the talent in the world but you're still going to get your butt kicked.

[mattzilla 0]

considering crosby has more points in one season than both kostitsyns have in their careers, maybe he shouldnt open his mouth. Im not a crosby fan but all these russians hacking on him is retarded.

the only two players mentioned in this entire thread that compare to crosby are ovechkin and malkin.

semin may have all the talent in the world, but he hasnt done shit yet. talent only gets you so far.

sure, he gets a lot of marketing, and he gets rammed down our collective throats, but the league has to make money. are they going to market some russian guy who cant speak a lick of english? no. that doesnt make business sense. ovechkin has charisma, so he gets the spotlight too. why would they market semin? there are plenty of guys who score less than a point a game.

though, i guess its good to know its not only this board thats full of haters. if they want some of the spotlight, put up or shut up.

[chippa13 1844]

Shocking that Russians have such attitudes.

Kostitsyn is just pissed that he has to learn French.

[OTHockey96 0]

I think the players are just expressing their frustration at being downgraded by the media in comparison to Crosby. Crosby is a great player...no argument there. BUT, nobody else gets the attention that he gets, regardless of how well they actually perform (look at Ovechkin last season). Anyways, Semin called Crosby to explain to him that he was mistranslated....again the media trying to get as much out of nothing as possible. Maybe Kostitsyn doesn't like Crosby, but the whole Semin thing was blown WAY out of proportion. I mean, does anyone here speak Russian??? Do you guys know how difficult it is to translate Russian into English??? I blame the media for making all Russians look like jealous little kids, Crosby like the only player in the NHL. Crosby is great, and so are other players (Ovechkin) too.

[fastbrother7 0]

Crosby is a legit superstar no doubt about it, but if you ask 10 people who is a more exciting player to watch between Crosby and Ovechkin, the vote goes to Ovechkin hands down. Furthermore, while Kovalchuk and Semin are alse exciting to watch, Malkin is pretty dry and though skilled, isnt my pick for most exciting player. Im not hating on pens player ( I wanted them to win last year ), im just stating my opinion.

[tro 4]

I get the hate on Crosby too many commercials, boring interviews, couple cheap shots and wines to much. But Stats are stats, and the guy has brought huge numbers since day 1. Even last year when you look at Pts per Game, Sid and Ovie were almost even. And then he leads them two games out in the Finals.

In a interview with Ovie last week, he said if he could put any players on a line with him, Crosby would be his centre. So I think Ovie knows where Sids at.

What I find interesting is the lack of awe Datsyuk seems to get when they ask the Eastern Euros who is the best. If I was picking the top Russia line, Ovie, Malkin, Datsyuk, well above Kovalchuk & Semin, pure offensive mindset I quess.

The love for Patty Kane in the Semin and Kotitsyn interviews, I think is a little odd, I like Kane, he'll be good for a long time, but some Chi games I watch he disappears for periods at a time. So I don't get why they are so in love with him.

At least the Euros give good interviews, our Cdn boys give such dull interviews, I think it comes from the teaching of the CHL.

[lee92 2]

I think in most cases what they're saying about Crosby is that he lacks the flair on the ice...there's so many times where he'll put up multiple points, but you'll never remember or know unless you looked at the score sheet. He's a great player, but just doesn't stand out on the ice. In the Pens games I've seen since he's come into the league, he'll maybe have a shift or two throughout the game where you'll notice he was out there (excluding having the announcers push his presence down your throat). To me, Crosby's an amazing playmaker who works really hard. He just doesn't have the shake and bake of the other stars, or the lethal shot. A lot of his highlight stuff is more to his work ethic rather than flair.

[mrusse01 0]

I don't know what you're watching if you don't notice Crosby on the ice, he controls the puck as much as any player in the league.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Shocking that Russians have such attitudes.

Kostitsyn is just pissed that he has to learn French.

Forget French...He could start by teaching Andrei English.

[phunky_monkey 6]

I think you're right Lee, and I think it's where the Russians in their interviews are coming from.

Personally I think the Russians are the most skilled players in the World, and most of my personal favourite forwards are Russian (Malkin, Fedorov, Bure, Mogilny, Datsyuk, Kovalchuk). That doesn't make them the best players though. The lack of excitement to a lot of Crosby's play contributes a lot to these assessments of his place in the league in my opinion, but being the most skilled player does not make you the best player. If that were the case then Kovalev would be the MVP of the league, but he isn't and not by a long shot.

I'm really interested to see Kane play a lot more though. I've only seen him play twice and wasn't super impressed so I really want to see what all the fuss is about. Pity they don't show more Chicago games on VS (all we get here in Aus)

[Ahriman 1]

i think alot of nhl players arent impressed by crosby because he lacks that huge slapshot/overpowering shot that alot of other superstars have.. I think part of it is because he uses no curve at all - and to compare him to russian players that probably all use illegal curves isnt exactly a fair comparison.

Really?

A flat blade makes you a better player? A deep curve makes you a bad one?

Really?

[Larry54 243]

i think alot of nhl players arent impressed by crosby because he lacks that huge slapshot/overpowering shot that alot of other superstars have.. I think part of it is because he uses no curve at all - and to compare him to russian players that probably all use illegal curves isnt exactly a fair comparison.

Really?

A flat blade makes you a better player? A deep curve makes you a bad one?

Really?

That's not exactly what he's saying but the straight blade certainly doesn't hurt his backhand. Crosby's backhand goal.

[interpathway 9]

And not to mention the flak Crosby was getting from at least one reporter who mentioned that Crosby's lack of scoring was because of his straight blade :lol:. Anyone remember the article?

[kosydar 0]

I wish Kostitsyn and Grabovski would both just shut up. It was entertaining for a while, now its just annoying. If they're going to fight, do it. But seriously what we all need is another interview that says "I'm not going to say what he said, but he knows he said it". There is no way that their fight (which probably won't even happen) will live up to this hype.

[flyerman 0]

i think alot of nhl players arent impressed by crosby because he lacks that huge slapshot/overpowering shot that alot of other superstars have.. I think part of it is because he uses no curve at all - and to compare him to russian players that probably all use illegal curves isnt exactly a fair comparison.

Really?

A flat blade makes you a better player? A deep curve makes you a bad one?

Really?

That's not exactly what he's saying but the straight blade certainly doesn't hurt his backhand. Crosby's backhand goal.

Best backhand in the league IMO in an era in which it is the most neglected shot in hockey. And I don't even like Crosby -- but I do respect his talent as a player.

[phunky_monkey 6]

That is an insane backhand!